Jon M. Chu views Wicked and its upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good, not as separate films but as one continuous narrative. He shared this perspective while discussing the evolution of friendship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as the sequel’s release date, November 21, approaches. Chu’s focus on the theme of friendship resonates deeply throughout the story.
Speaking at the Middleburg Film Festival, where he was honored with the Creative Collaborators Award alongside cinematographer Alice Brooks and editor Myron Kerstein, Chu outlined the emotional journey of these characters as they confront their complex bond and new roles in the land of Oz.
The Challenges of Choices and Consequences in Friendship
Chu elaborated on how Wicked: For Good delves into the repercussions of decisions made by Elphaba and Glinda as they embrace their identities: the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship is tested, reflecting the broader impact their actions will have on Oz.
He said,
Choices are easy, but sticking with them, how lonely that feels, how you start to question your own choices. In Glinda’s point of view, what happens when you weren’t ready to make the right choice at first? Can you have the courage to pop your own bubble of privilege when you see injustices?
Jon M. Chu
A Decades-Long Creative Partnership
Chu’s longtime collaboration with Alice Brooks began at the University of Southern California, where their shared passion for musicals brought them together. Recalling their first meeting, Chu admitted,
I chased her down and forced her to help me on this,
Chu recalled.
At the festival event, Brooks reflected on their partnership, mentioning they have known each other for more than half their lives. She shared a cherished memory of a memento from their first project:
One of my treasures is actually something Jon gave the entire crew when we finished, ‘When the Kids are Away,’ and it’s this little music box.
The Meaning Behind a Special Music Box
Brooks brought the music box to the gathering, revealing it plays the tune
When You Wish Upon a Star
and that she has carried it for 25 years. She explained,
For the last 25 years, I’ve been carrying this around with me because it’s a reminder of where my dream started. All we wanted to do was grow up and make musicals, and no one was making musicals. At the time, the Hollywood musical was dead, and we bonded over our love of musicals. And here we are, 20-something years later, having made this musical that’s impacted the world in such a major way.
Seeing the gift again visibly moved Chu, highlighting the profound personal connection behind their professional partnership.
A Symbol of Enduring Friendship
As a gesture of their mutual respect, Brooks returned a gift to Chu on the first day of shooting Wicked. Chu recalled,
On the first day of shooting ‘Wicked,’ she got me a music box and she had engraved ‘unlimited’ on it.
This exchange reflects the strength and enduring nature of their friendship, which parallels the film’s exploration of loyalty and growth.
Through the lens of Wicked, Jon M. Chu emphasizes the complexities of friendship, the weight of choices, and the courage required to face difficult truths. With the sequel’s release imminent, audiences can expect an emotionally layered continuation that challenges its characters as much as it celebrates their bond.
